NEA Jazz Masters: Tribute to Von Freeman

Although not as well-known outside the Windy City as he should be, Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman, Sr. is considered a founder of the "Chicago School" of jazz tenorists, a distinction shared with Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, and Clifford Jordan. With his individual sound, at once husky and melodic, he makes every song his own. As the Chicago Tribune has written of him, "For technical brilliance, musical intellect, harmonic sophistication, and improvisatory freedom, Von Freeman has few bebop-era peers." See a more detailed bio at http://tinyurl.com/jmvonfreeman